January 10, 2017

Cinema 2016: Top 10 Discoveries

For me, 2016 will be the year when I discovered the power and potential of TV Shows. I watched all the six seasons of 'Breaking Bad' and the first season of 'Fargo' and 'The Office' and several episodes from 'Black Mirror', 'House', 'Friends' and 'Game of Thrones'. I definitely feel like a novice with respect to shows, the way I used to feel before 2006 about anything beyond contemporary Bollywood. But, I hope I will slowly bridge the gap.Meanwhile, exploring cinema from new sources, both heard and unheard, continues. Following are the top reputed film-makers (listed in alphabetic order) I discovered only in 2016. I definitely feel richer than ever.

J.J. Abrams (USA, 1966-) Since I have not watched 'Star Trek' or 'Super 8', it was 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' (2015) that introduced me to Abrams. I then realized, he is the creator of the TV series, 'Lost' and is touted as the 'next Spielberg'. Also watched this year 'Cloverfield' and '10 Cloverfield Lane' of which he is one of the producers. What next: There is no news on his next directorial venutre yet. So I think I should watch the titles mentioned above for the time being and then wait for what he comes up next.

Tran Anh Hung (Vietnam-France, 1962-) With the incredibly beautiful 'The Scent of Green Papaya' (1993) I have discovered another Asia-born modern film-maker to follow. He won the Camera d'or with his aforementioned debut film and has directed only five more features in the next twenty-three years. What next: His second film, 'Cyclo' (1995) looks like the next film to watch from his filmography.

Lav Diaz (Philippines, 1958-) I watched his latest, 'The Woman Who Left' and instantly knew he is another modern film-maker I must follow. What next: Looking at the run-time of his movies, I don't know if I'll be able to watch any soon. Perhaps I should start with the shortest of his most reputed works, 'Norte, the End of History' which is a little over four hours long. And eventually, may be, I'll manage to watch 'From What is Before' (almost 6 hours), 'Melancholia' (7 and half hours), 'Heremias' (9 hours) and 'Evolution of a Filipino Family' (9 hours).

Kinji Fukasaku (Japan, 1930-2003) Every time I discover a Japanese master, I realize how limited my understanding and knowledge of cinema is, because Kurosawa-Ozu-Mizoguchi were all I knew about Japanese cinema for a very long time. Watching 'Battle Royale', the superbly entertaining blood-bath, I thought of him as a successor of Kitano. I was wrong again. Fukasaku had been making movies since the 60s. I must watch more of him, hoping for more bloodshed. What next: The sequel to 'Battle Royale' is a must. His other famous movies are 'Under the Flag of the Rising Sun' (1972), 'Battles Without Honor and Humanity' (1973), 'Graveyard of Honor' (1975), 'Fall Guy' (1982), 'House on Fire' (1986), 'Crest of Betrayal' (1994) and 'The Geisha House' (1998).

Alejandro Jodorowsky (Chile-France, 1929-) Of course I had heard of him and his famous surreal films, but it was his latest, 'Endless Poetry', that introduced me to his cinema. I really hope to watch all of his acclaimed films very soon. What next: I think I will watch this year four of his most reputed works: 'El Topo' (1970), 'The Holy Mountain' (1973), 'Holy Blood' (1989) and 'The Dance of Reality' (2013).

Andrei Konchalovsky (Russia, 1937-) Another master filmmaker I had not even heard of. I discovered him through his latest, 'Paradise', that is among the top nine movies contending for the foreign-language Oscar this year. He has directed more than twenty films. What Next: His early work, 'The Story of Asya Klyachina' (1967), his four-part epic 'Siberiade' (1979) and his Hollywood films 'Runaway Train' (1985, based on a Kurosawa screenplay) and 'Tango & Cash' (1989) promise some great variety.

Alexander Mackendrick (USA, 1912-1993) 'Sweet Smell of Success' was one of the few great classics I watched in 2016. And through this movie I discovered Mackendrick. Of course I had heard of him and his other famous works. I now realize he directed only nine feature films in his career. What Next: The Ladykillers (1955), The Man in the White Suit (1951), and Whisky Galore! (1949) appear to be his most reputed films.

Delbert Mann (USA, 1920-2007) Primarily a TV director, Mann won the Best Director Oscar for 'Marty', the delightful film that made me discover him. What next: His most acclaimed movies are perhaps 'The Bachelor Party' (1957), 'Separate Tables' (1958), 'Lover Come Back' (1961) and 'That Touch of Mink' (1962). I'll try to watch some of these this year.

Vilker Schlondorff (Germany, 1939-) 'The Tin Drum' was unforgettable and it introduced me to this Oscar-winning director. His latest film 'Return to Montauk' ccomes out this year and I'll look forward to it. What next: I should start with 'Young Torless' (1966) and 'The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum' (1975).

Edward Yang (Taiwan, 1947-2007) is the fourth Asian filmmaker on this list. I discovered him through his last film 'Yi Yi' (2000), perhaps my favourite movie-experience of last year, and then watched his second, 'Taipei Story'. I was saddened to know that he is no more, Yang succubed to cancer at the age of 59 and I'm eager to watch the remaining five features directed by him. What next: 'A Brighter Summer Day' (1991) should be my top choice, followed by 'The Terrorizers' (1986), 'That Day on the Beach' (1983), and 'Mahjong' (1996).

P.S. I started the 'Must Watch' recommendations in September 2010. Before that I had watched several movies that must feature in this list. But in order to save myself from the useless and predictable exercise of recommending all great movies, I decided to follow a simple eligibility criterion: The movies recommended here would be among those I watched or re-watched since September 2010. So please do not be surprised if 'Cinema Paradiso' or 'Apocalypse Now' (which are, in my opinion, definite Must Watch) do not feature in here. They will find a place in the list the day I re-watch them.